This article is part of our DraftKings NFL series.
QUARTERBACK
CASH
C.J. Beathard, SF vs. LAR ($4,800): Because of the lack of quarterback and running back options on the Sunday main slate, I'm spending all the way down in cash games so that I can jam in Todd Gurley and Adam Thielen. To do that, you need to be less than $5,500 on DraftKings. While Joe Flacco is a viable option at $5,400 in a home game that the Ravens are favored in with a good matchup against the Saints, I need the $600 in savings on Beathard. C.J. has hit 4.3x, 5.6x and 3.6x value since taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Rams defense has allowed quarterbacks to register 6.7x, 3.9x and 4.3x value since Aqib Talib went down. The target score for Beathard is 20, which would put him at 4x value, but we can probably live with a 3.5x-3.8x value if that is where he ends up.
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Kirk Cousins, MIN at NYJ ($6,400): I have picked on the Jets defense with quarterbacks for the last two weeks after seeing what Blake Bortles did to it in Week 4. It has paid off as Case Keenum hit for 4.5x and Andrew Luck hit for 4.6x. Now we get this vaunted Vikings passing attack in a great spot with Buster Skrine, Trumaine Johnson and Marcus Maye out. You get Cousins at a low ownership because he has only had two big games this year, but both were on the road. The Vikings play different at home vs. on the road. They win with defense at home, but on the road they have to play more wide open.
RUNNING BACK
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Todd Gurley, LAR at SF ($9,800): There are so few top-tier running backs in the Sunday main slate this week, that Gurley is a MUST play. There is nowhere else to get that level of production from a floor and ceiling perspective. The fact his price went down $200 is baffling. Gurley's finished as the fourth, first, second, 10th, second and second overall running back each week this season. With so much of the Rams' offense running through him, he is a lock for 25-30 points. The Rams projected team total is up to 31, which is the highest it has been this season.
Tarik Cohen, CHI vs. NE ($5,100): Jordan Howard has been phased out of the Bears offense the last two weeks while Cohen has posted 33.4 and 24.1 points at $4,100 and $4,600. His price did go up $500, but I still think he is underpriced for what his role is. The Bears should continue to rely on Cohen in this matchup against the Patriots. You need to find savings in cash games this week and Cohen is another player that provides a great floor, but also a chance for that 25-30 point ceiling in PPR.
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Peyton Barber, TB vs. CLE ($3,800): You must take chances in tournaments and with the running back pool depleted, the best thing is to look at the bottom part of the salary pool for viable options. Barber had a huge game last week against the awful Falcons run defense, so we know he has the ability when opportunity presents itself. The Bucs are a slight home favorite with a very high projected team total and the Browns have allowed five running backs to finish in the top 14. We don't need a monster game from Barber, but 15 points as a floor, with 20-point upside is reasonable.
Kerryon Johnson, DET at MIA ($4,500): Johnson is going to be a lottery ticket one of these weeks, I just do not know which week. But if I had to buy a ticket, this is the week as the Dolphins have allowed eight running backs to hit for at least 3x value, seven finishing in the top 15. Theo Riddick is most likely out Week 7, which means Johnson will get action in the passing game. Johnson has yet to receive a true workhorse role for the Lions, but he has hit for at least 2.8x value in three games.
WIDE RECEIVER
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Adam Thielen, MIN at NYJ ($8,600): Thielen is starting to become the equivalent of Gurley at running back. It used to be Antonio Brown was a lock for 25-30 points a week, but that is no longer the case. Thielen has seen his price rise from $6,900 to $8,600 and I still think he is underpriced. You could argue he is worth $9,000 or more. Thielen has a great matchup against an injured Jets secondary that has allowed nine opposing wide receivers to hit 3.1x value or greater.
Taylor Gabriel, CHI vs. NE ($4,700): With Allen Robinson potentially out for this game, Gabriel becomes the main target in the passing game for Mitch Trubisky. Gabriel has been huge the last two weeks posting 33.4 and 19.9 points. The Patriots have allowed seven wide receivers to hit at least 3x value and 5 in the top 24.
Jermaine Kearse, NYJ vs. MIN ($4,100): With Quincy Enunwa already out, now comes word that Terrelle Pryor did not practice Thursday. Kearse will be in line for a huge bump in targets. The Vikings have allowed four receivers to finish in the top 24 and seven to hit at least 3.3x value. At this price point, it allows you to spend up for Gurley and Thielen.
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Robert Woods, LAR at SF ($7,000): Another situation where we will be able to take advantage of an injury, in this case to Cooper Kupp. Woods will see a spike in targets, and the Rams have the highest projected team total on the Sunday main slate. Woods has hit for 3x value in four consecutive games for an average of 25.6 points and finished in the top 16 during that time. The 49ers have allowed six receivers to hit at least 3.4x value and 8 to hit for 2.8x or greater.
Stefon Diggs, MIN at NYJ ($7,200): Diggs is a more suited for a tournament play because he is boom or bust. He has three games of 21 points or more, but three games of 14 or less. The matchup against the Jets lines up for a boom game because of what I wrote in the Cousins/Thielen capsules.
John Brown, BAL vs. NO ($5,700): Brown gets a great matchup against Ken Crawley, who has been one of the worst cornerbacks in football this year. I have written up Brown other weeks sometimes as a cash game play and until recently it has paid off. His snap count and targets have dropped over the recent weeks, but I can see him bouncing back in this spot.
TIGHT END
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David Njoku, CLE at TB ($4,200): Njoku looks to be in line for a monster game against the Bucs, who have been the worst team against tight ends. Add in that Njoku's targets the last two weeks of 11 and 12 to make for the best cash game play at tight end this week.
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Eric Ebron, IND vs. BUF ($5,400): Ebron draws a difficult matchup against the Bills, but they have mostly shutdown wide receivers and been middle of the road against tight ends. Andrew Luck has relied on Ebron heavily this year as Ebron has a touchdown in five of six games.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
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BILLS at Colts ($2,300): The Bills' DST has ranked first, 10th, fifth and fourth the last four weeks and is still disrespected with a $2,300 price. Luck should still throw a lot in this game, giving the Bills opportunities for sacks and interceptions. I don't see a ton of points being scored in this game, but I can see the Bills getting a pick-6 or fumble recovery for a touchdown.
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COLTS vs. Bills ($3,300): OK, well I'm getting creative here by recommending both defenses from the same game, right? Well, the Bills are starting Derek Anderson at quarterback and while the Colts defense is not a great unit, the spot is ideal as they are a strong home favorite against a weak QB.
